Boom!
There was another explosion outside.
"What do you mean hide?" Vino was completely upside down in the current situation.
A thought hit his mind.
That nightmare...
He remembered the events that happened while he was sleeping and considered if they had any meaning.
"There isn't time," Vino said to himself out loud. He looked at Aria, and they both moved the piece of wood out of the way. Vino's heart was racing and he prepared to look down into the hole, but felt relieved after he saw nothing of the sort.
"Alright Vino. Get down here and-" Aria could not finish her sentence as she was cut off by a loud explosion at the front of the house.
There was dust everywhere, and it was hard to see, but when it cleared, there was a man with a wolf cut, half red and black hair.
Vino immediately locked eyes with the man and they exchanged looks for what seemed like eternity.
"Nobody here looks like they could be my damn kin! Why the hell did the Amulet react this way?" The man said.
Vino made an attempt to cover his bracelet, but the man caught him moving.
"What are you trying to hide? Show it!" The man stomped his foot, and a vine came out of the ground, grabbing Vino and Aria by the legs and hanging them upside down. Aria immediately reacted and twisted her body to freeze the vines.
"Vino! Run!" Aria said while they both fell from shattering the vines.
"I am not leaving without you guys." Vino said while Rina and Anne exited the room behind them at the same time.
"Vino, leave here now," Rina said in a serious tone. She let Anne hop over to his shoulder. "Its about to get serious."
Rina pulled a pin out of her hair and held it in front of her. "Heed my call! Sword of light! Reactis!"
The pin grew into a blade that was a bright yellow. The blade was thin and came to a tiny point at the end.
Aria threw her arms forward and hit two more vines that came out of the ground, shattering them into pieces instantly.
"Rina, it would be good for you to leave too! This isn't something you need to handle." Aria smirked, "I've got this, don't worry."
"You guys must be stupid." The man grabbed the bridge of his nose and said, "I am going to kill all of you. It's sad that you think you can escape."
The man had an indifferent expression, like it was something he was used to.
The house around them began crumbling to reveal that they were already ensnared in a wall of vines. These vines were thick and lined with red thorns.
Tsk.
This situation infuriated Vino. The powerlessness he felt was immeasurable. What's worse is that its his own brother who is attacking him.
He didn't get much time to think as a vine grew behind him, giving him no time to react. He turned around and held his hand out, but was hit in the side and thrown a few meters away. Anne was sent flying as well, and couldn't take the landing, getting knocked out cold instantly.
Vino coughed up some blood but wiped it away with his hand, leaving no remnants. "Hahah, I have to evolve this fight or die. It would be a good time to help now! Frags!"
There was no response.
"No need to rely on him!" Vino shouted. "Come at me!"
The man turned his attention towards Vino, and all the vines aimed at him.
"Oh? That bracelet...theres no way." The man smirked, holding back a laugh. It was a change from his neutral demeanor.
"You cannot be serious..." The man's expression turned sad."You are my brother? This is pitiful."
Vino watched as the man vanished and quickly appeared in front of Vino. The man looked him up and down and sighed.
"I can take you on." Vino said in an intimidating tone.
Gulp.
"I am not scared either!" Vino stood his ground.
The man put a hand over his face and asked, "Is this your mother?"
Aria was infuriated; she lifted her arm, and the area all around her began freezing.
She uttered a single word, "Blizzard."
The environment went from a green forest to pure white in seconds. It was truly a sight to behold; however, one person didn't take the time to look.
"The name is Ashra." He said it with no emotion.
"I assume you are headed to the academy. Is that your girlfriend?" Ashra appeared right between Rina and Aria.
"Who do you like more?" Ashra said.
Aria and Rina had turned around to attack, but he was back in front of Vino already.
"..." Vino remained silent. He couldn't answer.
"Very well then," Ashra appeared right behind Aria and a vine with a red thorn was piercing into her neck. It all happened so fast, Rina hadn't even noticed until it was too late. Aria dropped down to the floor, making Vino feel helpless.
"You are way too slow. What is my brother's name?" Ashra looked towards Rina, and a little smirk appeared across his face.
Rina had a look of fright; she had taken a step back, but didn't let go of her sword. Though she couldn't stop shaking.
"Do you want to be my wife?" Ashra asked, provoking Rina.
"Nobody wants to be with a creep like you!" Rina swung her sword, but little vines intercepted it before it reached Ashra.
"Hey, can I tell you something, brother?" Ashra pulled up his sleeve, revealing a skull on his forearm with vines growing all along his arm.
"You haven't even grown in strength enough to improve your mark."
Vino watched as the vines retreated into the skull, and the skull slowly morphed back into what was a waning crescent. However, this mark originated from the forearm instead of the palm.
"Maybe you are hiding it? It is easy to do, I guess." Ashra used a bunch of vines to wrap Rina up completely and began walking towards Vino.
"My name is Vino."
"That is a dumb ass name." Ashra walked up and kicked Vino, sweeping him off balance and making him land on his side.
"Show me." Ashra kicked him again, making more blood spill out of Vino's mouth.
"What do you want me to show you?" Vino said, trying to ignore the pain.
"What you are hiding." Ashra said, kicking him again and again.
Agh!
Blood began pooling around Vino.
A muffled cry was heard. Rina had been given enough space to see what was happening with Vino. She tried and tried, but couldn't move an inch.